15:52 Lubo
ahááááááááááá, thx

Peter61: "They are used to hike in the mountains for several days, last year we did a hut to hut hike in the Alps"

Leen,
ad "Day 4: zbojnicka chata"
do you have experiences with sleeping in altitude 2 000 m ?

None of mentioned saddles are vertical climbs. It is like a Via Ferrata of A/B difficulty in Austrian Alps. It is secured by a chain and there are couple of metal steps. Not real climbing.

This is Prielom:
hiking.dennikn.sk/…/sedlo_pri…

Thank you, Lubo!
this is very helpfull information! I'm looking forward to it.

The kids love climbing (and are getting far better and faster at it than we do:-)

But on very steep parts (like almost vertical) they might get scared and they cannot always assess the danger,especially our youngest..

Everything is possible :-) however I would not recommend Zbojnicka hut as your first target. Quite a long hike from Smokovec. Zelene pleso is better to begin with.

In case some huts on your route would not have any vaccancy, you can consider another route:

Day 1: Popradske pleso (theres a mountain lodge and a also a smaller hut). Short hike from Strbske pleso. You can leave your bigger packs here and hike up to Velke Hincovo pleso or Zabie plesa. Nice short hike is also possible around the pond visiting symbolic cemetery.

Day 2: Mountain lodge Sliezsky dom - not too long but very scenic hike.

Day 3: Zbojnicka chata via Velicka valley , Polsky hreben (Polish ridge) and Prielom saddle -- little steeper but for outdoor kids that are OK with little rock climbing without any trouble

Day 4: Smokovec from Zbojnicka hut, with detour to Zamkovskeho hut for lunch.

Thank you very much for your reply and suggestions, Lubo!

Do you think we could also do the trip in opposite direction ?
I ask this because of the availability in mountain huts..

Hi Leen, if your children are used to such hikes in mountains (elevation gain and length), I think your route is fine. My children (6y 10y) would be OK too.

Since you planned days are not too long, you will have plenty of time to either cope with weather (beware of possible storms in the afternoon) or you can use extra time around destination hut for short hikes without backpacks. E.g.:

1) Chata pri Zelenom plese (Green pond hut) - you can hike to Velke Biele pleso (Big White pond) or Kopske sedlo (Kops seddle)

2) Zamkovskeho chata (Zamkovsky's hut) - hike up the Mala Studena dolina (Small Cold valley) just above the timberline a come back

3) Zbojnicka chata (Robbers' hut) - hike around ponds area (Zbojnicka plan) or head towards sedlo Prielom (Prielom saddle) and turn around whenever it gets too steep for kids

If you want to hike hut-to-hut, you probably came up with the best route for outdoor-family trip.

Changes you might consider:

Day 1: in case of stable and nice weather consider to start in Tatranska Kotlina and hike to Zelene pleso via chata Plesnivec and Velke Biele pleso. This route is way more scenic, but longer.

Day 3+4: in case your children are well with climbing, consider to stay in Teryho hut (shorter hike from Zamkovskeho chata, but it it 3rd day, so it might be good to have a shorter one). Next day climb up Priecne sedlo (Priecne seddle), have a lunch at Zbojnicka hut and head down to Smokovec. This would be a rather long day though.

Another question: is the hiking tour (mentioned above in my former message) also possible in the opposite direction? Which direction do you recommend?

Or should you have any other suggestions for a 3 to 4 day hike with children..

thanks!

We are also planning a four-day hike in the high Tatras with our 2 children (8 and 10y old) this Summer (august), that is if we are allowed to travel..

We are thinking of this trip:
Day 1 Biela Voda to Zelenom plese
Day 2: zelenom pl - zamkovskeho chata
Day 3: zamkovskeho chata - Zbojnicka chata
Day 4: zbojnicka chata to Stary smokovec

Do you this this trip is suitable for children of this age? not too difficult?
They are used to hike in the mountains for several days, last year we did a hut to hut hike in the Alps..

Thanks for your suggestions.

Thanks to Lubo and Sona for your kind advice! We chose the hike to Teryho chata and had a wonderful time. Waterfall and views surely helped. The ascent from Zamka took around three hours so we also had time to explore the continuing path above Teryho chata in the afternoon. Upwards was actually easier than downwards for the children.

Final stage towards Teryho chata is steep, however the path is very well maintained. There are plenty of places suitable for resting. Even a waterfall is there, which counts for children :-).

In case you need to make a decision between two routes, I would recommend the first one from the adults' point of view and the second one from children point of view.

Anyways, make sure to book huts in advance, late July is high season all huts are quite busy.

Should you need any further advice or tips, feel free to ask here :-). We will be glad to help out...

Enjoy your trip!

I think chains wouldn't be problem for children at that age, bud this trip is very long, 17 km. Look at this: mapy.hiking.sk/?hpid=L89Cl
Or, are you going to stay overnight at Chata pri Zelenom plese?

Final climb at Teryho chata is ok, no steep terrain. See some pictures here: hiking.sk/…/teryho_chata_s_dv…

Have a nice hike :)